Correct. You do not need to rewire. Process is pretty easy. Park car with wheels absolutely straight. Disconnect battery (MUST DO). Pop out airbag with screwdriver (Youtube it). Disconnect airbag and connectors. Remove bolt holding wheel. Note position of wheel on splines. Remove wheel and take inside. Unplug and remove paddles. Paddles are held by a hex bolt. Newer style or M3 paddles go in same as stock. Installation is reverse of above. It took me about an hour and half to two hours to do the entire retrofit.

All I know is do not have the battery connected when you unplug the airbag or I was told a dealer will have to reset the light and they don't do it for free. PM me if you need any help. While I don't use the paddles much in the winter, they were nice for 2nd gear launches with brake boost in the summer.

Thanks for the thorough explanation AS. When you did yours did you buy the M3 paddles or something else?

If you have paddles already it's a straight swap. If you don't then yes, you have to rewire. I did the rewire with the JDB kit and it was easy. I picked up my paddles used on this board. Expensive though, like $200.

If you have the old paddles, easiest way to get "M-type paddles" is to buy lci-paddles (downshift left, upshift right) or you can cut some wiring inside the old paddles. M3-paddles wont work because of different electrical couplings (M3-paddles are basicly just on/off-type microswitch, old paddles have a small circuit board inside and it basis on different resistorvalues). The lci-paddles are made the same way as the old paddles, only they have removed the upshift-circuit on the other side and on the other side vice versa.

As to the steering wheel removal, you definitely must disconnect the battery before taking the airbag off if you don't want it in your face in worst case scenario! After unplugging the battery, wait for 15 minutes before you touch the airbag, then you will be okay.